Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Hey, Remember Me?

[Alumni Encounter] So, shortly after taking a seat today at my favorite downtown SLC lunch counter, I turn around and recognize the face of someone I particularly did not like from high school.

That's class of '75, Olympus High School, Holladay Utah.

I remember this about her: She had a long waist and even longer legs. Her hair, thick and auburn, reached easily to the middle of her back. Even with a mouthful of braces, she had a brilliant smile. And she was definitely one of those popular girls.

I don't remember her as especially bright, or as an engaging conversationalist. But then it was high school, and why would those qualities count?

She was never very nice to me. We had a couple of classes together, and I don't recall her ever speaking my name.

So suddenly I am at lunch. I look at her. For a few long seconds I look at her. She looks at me. I smile. She smiles, weakly. But there is no hint of recognition in her eyes.

I guess I never forget a face. I could cut her some slack, but 32 years have passed and I don't want to. She looks as good as ever, still doesn't strike me as terribly nice.

Oh--that photo up on top? It's George W. Bush bagman Karl Rove, Olympus High Class of '69. He may be our most famous graduate. He's not very nice, either.

Anyone else out there have chance encounters with creeps from high school you'd be better off forgetting? (Holly Mullen)

Once I was very happy to see a classmate from high school--she was a popular cheerleader type, a mean girl with absolutely no time for the likes of me--staggering off a bus. She had three kids under 6, frowsy hair pulled back into a scrunchie, was wearing sweats and had put on about 60 pounds.

I don't usually go in for schadenfreude, but in this case ... well, it seemed at the time like a small victory.--Brandon Burt